The Asheford Institute has officially released its 17th annual international survey of antique and decorative arts purchasing trends. Often regarded as a “bellwether” barometer for those working in the antique and vintage trades, the wide-ranging poll offers a data-driven framework of evolving industry trends over a 12-month period.
Drawing on insights from its network of students and alumni from around the world, the school’s annual survey provides strategic guidance for industry professionals working within the antique and vintage community. Lead researcher Tony Drew says the study’s true value stems from its focus on verifiable sales and direct consumer queries. “By analyzing actual shop-floor activity and specific client inquiries,” Drew explained, “we can identify emerging antique and vintage patterns within specific genres, enabling dealers to optimize their inventory for the coming fiscal year.”
Despite some early economic headwinds attributed to tariff-anxiety and interest rate unpredictability, Drew says that poll results indicate the decorative arts sector has shown surprising resilience over the last year. While tighter budgets and trade war fears initially sparked concern, Drew believes these issues drove consumers toward the resale market in search of value. “We saw this happening in 2024 with interest rates,” he said, “but it was even more amplified this year by tariff fears as many were clearly shopping ‘used’ instead of ‘new,’ due to escalating retail prices.” With ‘twinned’ economic fears pushing consumers to the second-hand market, Drew said it wasn’t unexpected to see sales figures rising in a number of antique and vintage categories.
However, beneath the broader economic influences, survey respondents also made it clear that ‘affordability’ wasn’t the only determining factor in consumers buying preferences. Senior school analyst, Jennifer Mason, who worked compiling datasets for this year’s poll, says that while cost-consciousness may have initially pumped-up the market, there’s no question that ‘on-point’ antique and vintage trends are now dominating the decorative arts field. “We’re seeing a transition well beyond the bargain-hunting mentality,” says Mason, “these buyers are now looking for decorative investments, and are more than willing to spend on some high-growth categories.”
Reflecting on the data, survey lead Tony Drew also noted that this year’s poll was defined more by unexpected market pivots and evolving collector priorities than a simple continuation of past trends. Drew observed that while the singular, intense focus on Mid-Century Modern is steadily losing its grip, “semi-modernist” aesthetics remain a powerful force in the industry. This is particularly evident in the enduring popularity of Art Deco and Art Nouveau, both of which Drew says continue to alternate top poll-positions as perennial dealer favorites.
However, the year also saw the emergence of younger collectors who introduced fresh categories to the charts, specifically vintage vinyl and the analog audio equipment required to amplify it. Perhaps the most surprising poll addition was the revived interest in an early 20th-century type of kitchenware, a niche that has not enjoyed widespread popularity since the 1980s. Ultimately, 2025 stood out as a remarkably eclectic year for popular collecting trends, says Drew, “it was definitely a mix of younger and older buyers, but with some truly unusual niche categories making it onto the charts for the first time.”
For those wanting to view the complete line-up from this year’s survey of best-selling antique and vintage categories from 2025, including this year’s winners (and some surprising newcomers), you can find all the results on the Institute’s website at: https://www.asheford.com/2025-survey-results.html.
If you would like more information about the Asheford Institute, and it’s distance-learning program on antiques, vintage, appraising and the decorative arts, you can visit their website at www.asheford.com, email them at; info@asheford.com, or write to them at Asheford Institute Of Antiques 771 Harbor Blvd. Ste. 400, Dept. #275HZ5 Destin FL 32541, or toll free at: 877-444-4508.